Question: How would I bleach my hair PLATINUM blonde instead of just gross orangey blonde like you get from just bleaching it? I have BLACK hair and eyebrows, would that look funny? Would it be hard to get such blonde hair without it completely drying out and becoming straw? Could this be done at home CHEAPLY?

I bleach my hair platinum blonde. It'll take several sittings to get it from black to white. I also suggest that if you have long hair, you get used to the idea of cutting it short, since you're going to destroy it by bleaching it. It's the price you pay.

Hit the beauty supply store. Ask for a Powder bleach, and 30-40 developer. Follow the directions(I just slop the stuff on, and I know that's bad because It burns my scalp. I live with it.) wrap a plastic bag over your head and let the bleach develop.

You'll probably have to do this a few times to get the white. Wait at least 2 weeks between bleaches. I use Nexxus Silver for shampoo, and leave it on a good long time. It has a blue tint that helps pull out the brassiness. Also, invest in a really good reconstructor. Slather the stuff on your head, wrap a plastic bag around it, watch TV for an hour, and then rinse. You're frying your hair, so try not to use any heat appliances(blowdryer, curling iron)

You could go to a salon for the first heavy bleach, and then do touch-ups on your own.

I am not in any way a certified hairdresser, and I know I do several of these steps VERY wrong(like using off-the-scalp bleach directly on the scalp) but it's worked for me for years. I wouldn't suggest doing this unless it's exactly the look you want. The hair will be so stripped that very little colour will take if you want to dye it some other colour: so it's not exactly a light undertaking. And like I said, if you have long locks, and want to keep them, don't do it, or go to a professional(particularly if your hair is thick and coarse I think you'd loose it.)

I'm willing to chop all my hair off at any time, so I think the platinum requires a certian amount of fatalism. If you don't mind maybe having to switch to an emergency pixie-cut, then go for it.

thanks bambikhantastic, well, luckily I've been shaving my head for the past year and it's just starting to be a short bob now. so, I've been a short pixie hairdo type for a while now, that's no problem. um, i do have EXTREMELY thick hair though... so, if I were to try bleaching it a few times, and don't like it, I couldn't re-dye it black? thanks for your help. -ayesha